France withdraws Paris bid for 2025 World Expo

In comments published Sunday by weekly newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche, Philippe said he has doubts about the economic viability of the project and fear unexpected additional expenses in the context of public budget cuts.

He also stresses the lack of private partners involved in the project.

The remaining candidates for the 2025 World Expo are Yekaterinburg in Russia, Osaka in Japan and Baku in Azerbaijan.

Philippe formally announced his decision in a letter he sent earlier to those organizing Paris's candidacy.